Česky
In recent weeks, articles have appeared in the daily press about cancer centres and the reduction of their number by the Ministry of Health. As there has been information in this context about the "need to close down those cancer centres that do not provide sufficient quality care" and at the same time information about the closure of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of the Pardubice Region, where you are currently being treated or want to be treated, there may be an impression or doubt as to whether you are receiving adequate cancer care.
We would like to assure you that the workplace where you are being treated, both in terms of equipment and expertise, is one of the best in the country and is fully comparable to the faculty workplace in Hradec Králové. The instrumentation is new and allows you to use the most modern technologies in radiotherapy. The team of medical staff is experienced, led by two associate professors and having 14 doctors with maximum medical training in both clinical and radiation oncology. Within the framework of chemotherapy, our department provides all available oncological treatment covered by public health insurance, including the so-called biological treatment. The contract between our facility and the VZP for the reimbursement of this care is for an indefinite period of time and contains a provision that it can only be amended in the event of a change in legislation and after joint negotiation. Neither of these reasons has occurred to date.
The quality of the workplace is also evidenced by the fact that the Czech Oncological Society has no objections to its professional quality, as emphasised in the daily press by its President, Prof. MUDr. J. Vorlíček, DrSc.
The overwhelming majority of the reasons (unfulfilled requirements) for cancellation of the status of the cancer centre in Pardubice, currently stated by the Ministry of Health, have been fulfilled or have not yet been required in the methodology. The fact that there is a comparably high-quality facility 25 km from Pardubice, in Hradec Králové, is not a reason why the citizens of the Pardubice Region should not have access to quality cancer care, which has been built in the Region over the past 5 years at a cost of almost CZK 0.5 billion. This is especially true given the fact that in 2006 and 2007 (when the Ministry of Health repeatedly included the Pardubice workplace in the cancer centres) this fact did not bother the existence of the centre! The takeover of those oncology patients who should be affected by the administratively enforced change by the Ministry of Health in the future (from mid-2009 at the earliest) has not yet been addressed and resolved, and it is questionable whether the Hradec Králové facility is currently able to provide the necessary oncology care for both regions in an adequate capacity.
Your interest and needs as our current clients are our priority, and we are doing and will do everything necessary to satisfy them, including all procedures to prevent the efforts of Ministry of Health officials to completely unjustifiably damage the professional reputation of our facility and limit its ability to provide you with needed cancer care.
In Pardubice, February 6, 2009
doc. MUDr. J. Vaňásek, CSc., v.r.
head doctor of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of the Pardubice Region
Download attachments:
Letter to patients of KOC Pardubice
Schematic table of reasons for withdrawal of the status of KOC Pardubice
List of publications of the Institute in the last 3 years
